Machine for folding noodles



April 3o, 19,29. C. @RICO ET AL 1,711,431

MACHINE FOR FOLDING NOODLES gvwentom April 3o,- 1929.

c. suRlco E'r Al.

MACHINE -FOR FOLDING NOODLES 1111911 March'le, 192e 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 30, 1929. c. suRlco ET AL 1 1,711,431

MACHI-NE FOR FOLDING NOODLES Filed March 16, 192e 'I 4 sheets-sheet s April 3o, 1929. c. sumo ET AL '1,711,431

MACHINE -FQR FQLDING N OQDLES Filed March 16, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 30, 1929.

UNITED STATES .PATE

CARMIENE SURICO AND PAUL CARBONE, OF NE'W YORK, Y., ASSIGNORS v'r oEFIcE.

To CLER- MONT MACHINE C INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MACHINE FOR FOLDING NOODLES.

This invention relates to machines forrfolding noodles, macaroni, vcrn'iicelli, iidellini and other related dough products.

l One of its 1)rincipal objects is so 'to handle and fold the noodles as to closely imitatethe manner in which this is done by hand. The present machine is provided with 'means which first divide a shredded sheet of dough. into separate hanging bunches. Fingers, corresponding in number to the bunches, are adapted to seize the bunches. lVhe'n the fingers have seized the bunches. cutting means automatically cut offthe upper ends, causing the bunches to hang in loops from the ngers. ylhe lower ends of the loops are dragged over a receivingsurface by the fingers, which gradually lower the loog thereon.' During this lowering, the fingers are adapted to be given a varietyy of motions for twisting or folding the loops upon themselves. The iingers are mounted on a cross frame hung from brackets er arms which are adapted to be swung about a shaft as axis. In addition to this swinging motion, the brackets can be moved substantially radially with respect to their axis. Mechanism is provided also for transversely reciprocating` the crossA frame and brackets. Other types'of mechanism for effecting substitute motions, instead of those shown, can be used and still come within the scope of the invention.

Other forms of bunches can be formed,`

differing from that shown and described, by varying the sequence and amounts of the motions noted above.

Broadly speakingv all the folding motions do not have to be done by the ngers themselves, some or all of them, as a mechanical equivalent, can be effected by the receiving surface. tween the lingers and the receiving surface which accomplishing' the folding.

The term noodles is used in the specification for the sake of brevity, butit is to be understood that other related dough products are meant as well. f

Other objects and advantages in addition to those noted above will become apparent upon further study of the specication and drawings in which f Fig. 1 is a. side elevation of the noodle folding machine, Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail of the .Vingers for lgripping the noodles, Fig. 3 is a View of the bunch ofnoodles just after be- Rather it is the relative motion be 6 6 of Fig. 1, Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the left end of the machine, as shown in Fig. 1,

vwith a portion of the frame broken away to show the stationary bracket for operating the fingers, Fig. 8 is a schematic elevation showthe noodle folding machine in combination with a noodle cutting machine, Fig. 9

is a plan of a modified form of finger conf struction, Fig. 10 is an elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 9, Fig. 11 shows the folded bunch of noodles and Fig. 12 shows the folding of an individual noodle.

The sheet of dough 12 (Fig. 8)- is pulled fromthe roll of dough 13 andlis led between cut-ting rolls 141 which cut it into strings or noodles as is more. fully explained in our lU.k S. Patent No. 1,357,611, noodle cutting machines, November 2, 1920. From cutting rolls 14, the'sheet yof dough 12, now cutinto strings or noodles Q3 passes by gravity over stationary bunching bracket 15, between said bracket and guard 15 (Fig. 1). Stationary bunching bracket 15 is essentially a plate provided with wedge shaped projections 17 if Fird andl 7) which together with the surface said plate form little compartments between them, into which the strings of dough separate.themselves into bunches, a bunch being formed for each compartment. In Fig. 7, projections 17 are showndotted because they are on the far side of the plate. 1t kis these bunches, ,which it is the object of the rest of the machine to fold into various forms, one of whichis shown in Fig. 11.

Just below stationary bunching bracket 15 y located movable'bunching plate 18. Bunching plate 18 is also provided with projections, one. of which is shown at 19 (Figsa and 7).

These projections 19 divide movable bunching plate 18 into compartments such as shown at 2O corresponding to the compartments formed on stationary bunchingl bracket-,15. ll/iovable bunching` plate 18 is bolted at each end to abracket 21. Brackets 21 are pivotally n'iounted on the main frames 68 and 6901 the machine. Brackets 21, together with plate are adapted to be rocked at predetermined intervals by mechanism described later on. Opposite each compartment 2O is a movable claw 22, best seen in Figs. 1 and 4. These clawsl are adapted to be rocked toward plate 18 as said plate is rocked toward them by mechanism also to be described later. The cooperation of compartments 2O and claws 22 tui-ther consolidates the bunches originally formed by stationary bunching bracket l5, and also dispcses them, in spaced relation transversely to suit the folding mechanism.

The lingers 24 and 25 are carried in a crossframe hung from brackets 39. As will be explained hereafter, brackets 39 are so supported and actuated that cross-lrame 37 with its ngers 24 and 25 are given a variety ot motions. At the beginning of an operation said lingers are held by brackets 39, up and lorward nearthe4 hanging bunches 23, so that said bunches pass between the open lingers. This position is shown dotted in 8. Alter lingers 24 and 25 have closed together on the bunches ol noodles between them, the bunches are cut oli by knife blades 43 and 44, and assume the position shown in Fig. 3, hanging from the lingers in the form of a loop with the free ends downward. rlhe lingers are then lowered substantially to the position shown in Fig. l and carried about so that these lree ends lirst drag over a depositing or receiving surface (conveyor after which,`

the rest olf' the loop is piled on top of itself while beingcarried about by further motion ofthe lingers so as to forni a bunch 135 as shown in Fig. l1. )While being carried about by cross-trame 37, lingers 24 and 25 are also given a wrist-like rotation upon said cross frame as willbe explained.

Each linger 24 is rotatably mounted on a pin v25 (Figs. 2 and 4) supported in brackets 27 formed integrally with linger 25. Each lin ger 25 has a lange28 projecting at right angles from it. Between the rear end of linger 24 and llange 28 is interposed a compression spring 29 which normally tends to hold the outer end of linger 24, which carries the conical projection 30, against finger 25. Finger 24 at its intermediate portion, carries a pin 31 projecting downward from it. Pin 3l loosely engages a slot 32 in a bar 33. An opening 34 is provided in. each linger 25, Jror the passage therethrough of bar 33. A horizontal motion of bar 33 inone direction (towards the bottom of the page in Fig. 4) rotates linger 24 about pin 26 and separates its projection 30 from linger 25, while motion of bar 33 in the opposite direction permits the closing of the lingers. Flange 28 ot linger 25 has a boss '35 projecting from it. 35 is rotatably mounted in bushing 36, held in cross-iframe 37 'to allow tor the wrist-like motion nicntioned above. At each bushing 36, crossfraine 37 carries a hollow boss 38 encasing said bushing to supply rigidityv to the sup-- ports oi' lingers 25. On :its right hand end (Fig. 2), each boss 35 carries lined to it a disc 42 provided with gear teeth 40 'tor portion of its upper periphery. Rackrl, slidablj supported in brackets 39, is adapted to mesh with teeth 40. Horizontal motion of rack 4l rotates discs 42 and hence lingers 24 and 25.

Bar and rack 4l project to the left ot crossl`ra1ne 37 as shown in Fig. 7. Near the end ol3 its motions in depositing the bunches on conveyor 45, cross-frame 37 is moved to the left (Fig. 7) causing the projecting ends ot bar 33 and rack 4l to `be pressed against stationary bracket 46 formed on frame 68 of the machine. This lirst gives the wrist-like motion to the lingers alter which they are separated as rack 4l projects more to the lett than bar 33. rlhe separation of the lingers releases the bunches oit noodles. The lingers are retained in separated position against the actionV ol springs 29, by means of pawl 47 (Figs. lV and 7) snapping up into a. notch in the bottom of bar 33. Pawl normally tends to assume its upper position. under the tension of spring 48. A l'urther downward motion of cross-frame 37 and a slight motion to the right, brings the right han-l projecting end of rack 41 against stationary cani shaped bracket 49, causing thc lingers. to be rotated back to their iftial position ready to seize the next batch of hanging bunches of noodles, as said lingers are moved up te posicion under bunching plate 18 as shown dotted in Fig. 8. When the lingers have reached the position where the hanging bunches come between -them, further movement upward and forward causes pawl 47 to be tripped by having its end come under lug 50 projecting inward from the frame of the machine (Fie. l). This releases bar 33 causing the to close about the bunchesbetwecn them. lilhen the lninclws are then cut Vby knilefblades 43 and 44, the top of the bunch tells, looping over the cenical projection 30 into the torni shown in Fig. 3. The plane oit the loop thus formed i sub' stantially parallel to finger 25.

The main power for the machine is obtained from shaft 5l (Fig. 8) lel the noodle cutting machine, which shalt is adapted to be driven from some source ol.2 power (not shown). Sprocket wheel. 52 which is fined to shalt 5l drives chain 53. h

Chain 53 .meshes wit sprocket wheel 54 fixed tosbaiit 55. Shalt carries lined to it another sprocket wheel (not shown) with which cb ain 56 meshes. Chain 56 then passes over sprocket wheel 57 f' orteil to shaft 58, thence'over sprocket wheel 59 fixed to shaft 60, thenceover sprocket wheel 61 fixed to shaft. 62 and back again to the sprocket wheel on shaft 55. i i

The mechanism for rocking bunching plate 18 is as follows: Bunching plate 18 is supported on brackets 21 which are rotatably mounted on the frame of the machine. yPivotally connected to one of the brackets 21 is a cam rod 63 (Figs. 1 and 4). The other end of cam rod 63 is formed with a yoke 64 carrying a roller adapted to ride on the periphery of cam 65. Cani 65 is fixed to shaft 62. The rotation of cam 65 rocks biincliing plate 18 at predetermined intervals, the res turn stroke of said plate being eected by spring 66 fixed at one end to the bracket 21 at the top of the sheet (Fig. 4). The other end of spring 66 is fastened to cross bar 67 bolted between frames 68 and 69 of the machine near their upper portion. Y

The mechanism for operating` the movable knife-blade 43 is as follows: Knife-blade 43 is bolted to a crossvbar 70 provided with projections 71 at each end engaging slots in levers 72 (Figs. 1 and 4). The ends of cross bar 70 are adapted to slide in slotted, guides 78 bolted to main frames 68 and 69. Levers 72 are pivotally mounted on brackets 7 3 formed on main frames k68 and 69 (Fig.v 1 shows one of them). Pin connected to each lever 72 is a cam rod 74 provided with a yoke 75 carrying a cam roller 76 adapted to roll on the periphery of ka cam 77. Cams 7 are fixedly mounted `on shaft 62. At predetermined intervals cams 77 move knife-blade 43 to the left for cutting off the noodles. The return stroke is effected by means of springs 79 fastened at one end to levers 72 and at the other to cross bar 67. y

The mechanism for operating` claws 22 is as follows Claws 22 are mounted on a cross bar 82 (Fig. 4). Said cross bar is mounted on a frame comprising a horizontal bar 83 on each side of the machine (Figs. 1 and 4). Bars 83 are each connected to inclined bars 84 and 85, best seen in Fig. 1.

p Bars 83` and 85 are connected at their jiinction to a cross bar 86. The lower end of bars 85 are loosely mounted on shaft 87 which eX- tends across the machine and is rotatably mounted in main frames 68 and 69. Each bar 85 has formed upon ita crank arm 88. Cross bar 89, best seen in-Figs. 1 and 4', is supported at each end in a crank arm 88. Cam rod is pivotally mounted at its lower end on cross bar 89. The upper end of cam rod 90 is adapted to be actuated by cam 91 (Fig. 7) fixed to shaft 62. Gamy 91 is so formed that at predetermined intervals it rocks the frame-work formed of bars 83, 84, 85, 86 and 89, thereby operating claws 22 on cross bar 82. The return stroke of said frame-work is effected by springs 92 fastened at their upperends to cross bar 67 and at their lower ends to cross bar 89.

The noodles arefolded and deposited by fingers 24 and 25 upon the upper run of conveyor 45. Said conveyor` is adapted to have no feeding orL running motion during .the

time of deposit, but when a row of bunches of noodles have been deposited upon it, it is adapted to be given sufficient feeding inotion to present a new surface for the deposit of the nextrow of bunches. The completed bunches are fed off tliefront end of conveyorl 45 and drop upon a tray 79 below, carried by another conveyor 80. Conveyor 45 is an endless belt mounted as is usual upon a pair of rollers. The belt as a whole with its rollers is pivotally mounted at its center upon across bar 81 (Figs. 1, `7 and 8). When the belt 45 is rotated so that its rear end (right Figs. l and 8) is down it is caused to have feeding motion. `When the rear end f is lifted no feeding motion takes place as will be explained. f f v The mechanism for operating conveyor belt 45 isV as follows z-0ne sideof the frame for conveyor 45 is provided with a lug 93 (Figs. 1 and 7) fixed to it. Opposite lug 93 and adapted to engage with it, is a finger 94 fixed to a shaft 87. Fixedto shaft 87, near its middle portion,` is a crank '95. Camv rod 96 is pivotallyconnected at its lower end to crank '95 while its upper end is adaptedto be reciprocated by cam 97 (Figs. 4 and 7), that is cam l97 forcibly depresses cam rod 96 causing finger 94 to raise lug 93 against the tension of spring 98 thereby raising the rear end of conveyor' 45 in which positionk it is caused to have no running or feedingmotion. Spring 98, which is fastened at its upper end to lug 93 and at its lower end .to mainframe 69, normally holds the rear end of conveyor 45 down. Shaft 99, upon which the rear roller of conveyor 45 is fiXedly mounted, carries gear 100 fiXed'to it. Nhen the rear end of conveyor 45 is downegear 100 kmeshes with gear 101 fixed to shaft 102 thereby causing conveyor 45 to have its running 0r vfeeding motion. fixed to the end of shaft 102. Chain y104 at the lower end of its run meshes with sprocketwheel 103 while the upper end of its run en-Y gages sprocket wheel 105, fixed to shaft 62 byv which itis driven. Itis to be recalled that shaft 62 is drivenby the main driving chain 56 which meshes with sprocket wheel 61 fixed to the end of said shaft.

Cross frame 37, which supports fingers `and 25,15 adapted to be given a variety of 'The mechanism forfraising and lowering the ngers 24 and 25 with a mot-ion of pure translation will now be explained.` This mo- Sprocket wheel 103 .is v

tion is one which increases or decreases the distance ofsaid fingers from shaft 106 from which they aresuspended by suitable framing to be described z-Cross frame 87 isfastened to the lower end of brackets 39. The upper end of brackets 39 each carry a rack 107 fixed to them.V Each'rack 107 is slidably mounted in ahousing 108 attached to the ends of sleeve 109. Sleeve 109 is loosely mounted on shaft 106. Each rack '.7 is adapted to engage a gear 110 carried in housing 108. The housir/gf' 108 are provided with cavities within ywhich gears 110 are rotatablyl mounted. Gre-ars 110 are also feathered upon shaft 106, permitting of their being slid 'transversely on said shaft together' with sleeve 109 and housings 108 for a purpose to be explained later. Shaft 106 is rotated by gear 111 fixed to its rightv end (Fig. 7). Rack 112 (see also Figs. 1 and 4) meshes with gear 111and drives it. The rear end of rack 112 is provided wth yoke 118 adapted to slide over ay block (not shown) loosely mounted on shaft 58. Fia'edly mounted on shaft 58 adjacent to yoke 118 is cam 114 with which cam roller 115 engages. Cam roller 115 is rotatably mounted on yoke 118. Gam 114 is suitably formed to move rack 112 forward at predetermined intervals, the return stroke of said rack being effected by spring 116. The reciprocatien of rack 112 raises and lowers cross frame 87 and with it fingers 24 and 25 through the train of mechanism just described.

The mechanism for swinging or rotating fingers 24 and 25 about shaft 106 as airis is as follows :-As noted above sleeve 109 is loosely mounted on shaftl` 106. Brackets 117 are also loosely mounted on shaft 106. A tie rod 118 connects the upper ends of brackets 117 to each other (best seen in Fig. 7). 1n a similar manner a tie rod 119 connects the lower ends of said brackets to each other. Bothtie rods 118 and 119 pass through housings 108 carried by sleeve 109. When brackets 117 are rotated, housings 108 therefore are rotated with them. A gear 120 (Figs. 4 and 7) is fixedly mounted on each bracket 117. Said gears are looseon shaft 106. Each gear 120 meshes with a rack 121 by which it is adapted to be driven. The other ends of racks 121 each carry a yoke 122, which is adapted to slide over a square bearing block 125 5) loosely mounted on shaft 58 between cams 124 and 126. A pair of cams 124 and 126 are fixed upon shaft 58`near each end. Each yoke 122 carries a cam roller 123 adapted to ride on cam 124 and a cam roller 127 adapted to ride on cam 126. r1`he rotation of cams 124 is adapted to push racks 121 to theleft 5) while cams 126 are adapted to pull said racks to the right. When racks 121 are mover to the right, gears 120 which are fixed to brackets 117 rotate thelatter so as to canse housings 108 to swing cross frame 87 downward and with it fingers 24 and 25. Motion of racks 121 to the left swings cross frame 87 upward.

Fingers 24 and 25 with their supporting bracket87 are also adapted to be given a reciprocating ltransverse motion. The mechanism for effecting this is as follows z-Sleeve 109 which rotatably and slidably mounted on shaft 106 carries near its middle portion collars 128 between which ring 129 is rotatably mounted, best seen in Fig. 'i'. Lever 180 which is pivotally mounted on pin181, held by cross frame 182, 5) is pivotally connected at one end to ring 129. of lever 180 has cam roller 183 rotatably mounted upon it. Cam roller v1.38 works in the groove of cam 184 fixed to shaft 58,

said groove being so formed aste rock the endV of lever 130 and thereby cause the transverse motion of bracket 37 wit-hits fingers in ,predetermined relation to the other motions described above,

1When the noodles 23 have been completely folded they appear as bunches 185 shown on conveyor (Figs. 1 and 7). it predetermined intervals bunches185 are discharged upon tray 79 (Fig. 1). Tray 79 is carried by conveyor 80. Conveyor 80 adapted to be given an intermittent motion. so as to receive bunches 185 in rows from conveyor 45.

rflhe mechanism for effecting the intermittent motion of conveyor 80 in the direction thc arrow in 1 is as followsz-Gear o6 is fixed to short shaft 137 suppe, lg one he rear roller 188 over which belt 80 igs. 1. 6, 7 and The forward end .velt 80passcs over roller 139 (Fig. 8). lotatably mounted on short .shaft 140 just beve gear 136 and meshing with it rear o. which carries tired to it ratchet wheel Farsi 148 carried by bracket 144 is adapted to engage rachet wheel 142. `Bracket 144 is rotatably mounted on short shaft 140. One end of pitrnan 145 is pin connected 'to bracket 144 while the other end is adapted to engage c ar-lr 146 fixed to the end Vof shaft 58. The rotation of crank 146 causes pitman 145 on its up stroke, through the agency of bracket 144 and pawl 148, to give ratchet wheel 142 Ya partial rotation. This partially rotates gear 141 and with it gear 186 resulting in belt a new position. Y

The operation of the machine is as fol.-

lowsz-.llhe shredded sheet of dough is lcd from the noodie cuttingrolls 14 over stationw ary bunching bracket 1- coming on down between movable b2 g' plate 18 and claws 22. Cams and 91 operate, respectively in vable bunching plate 18 and claws 22 to come together and consolidate the hrcddcd dough sheet into bunches. Cross rame at this time is raised to s upper and forward position se that the bunches of noodles,hang` between the pairs of iingers and 25, which are sei ated. Said lingers embrace the bunches the point where they (the fingers) are held when cross frame 37 is inst about to come up to theposition where lug 50 will dis The other end- 80 being' shifted to Cil engage pawl 47 from the notch in the end of bar 33. A slight further upward motion of cross frame 37 disengages said pawl, permitting fingers 24 to come against fingers 25 under the action of springs 29 (Figs. 2 and 4) and grip the bunches. At about this time cam 77 actuates movable knife-blade 43 to cut the upper ends of the bunches. The upper ends of said bunches fall over lug causing them to hang between fingers 24 and 25 in loops as shown in Fig. 3, with the plane of the loop parallel to the face of fingers 25.- fraine 37, with its fingers, is now moved downward so that the ends of the loops touch the top of conveyor 45. This downward motion is effected through the agency of cam 114 operating racks 107 so as to move them down` ward while at the same time cross frame 37 is swung down about shaft 111 as axis by racks 121. Themotion of racks 121 is controlled from cams 124 and 125. Referring now'to Figs. 11 and 12, cross frame 87 is so moved transversely and longitudinally backward that portion a of the loop is deposited on conveyork 45. Inadditionto lits transverse and longitudinal motion cams 114, 124 and 125 continue to bring `down cross frame 37 so as to supply sufiicient length of noodle for the deposit. The transverse motion is effected effected through the swinging of lever `130 by cam 184 while the backward longitudinal motion is supplied by the swinging of cross frame 37 about shaft 111. Transverseand longitudinal.. motion is further effected, while at the same time racks 107 comedown, so that portion b is now deposited. The transverse motion is reversed towards the end Y of portion b. Portion c is then deposited,

rwards the latter portion of c.

the longitudinal motion being forward toportions d and e are deposited. During the deposit of portion e, rack 41 comes against bracket 46 (Fig. 7) giving a wrist like rotation to fingers`24 and 25 for `more effectively dropping off the head of the loop. When cross yframe 37 approaches. its extreme vleft depositing of noodles. i

Instead of constructing fingers 24 and 25 off the folded bunches V135 upon tray 79. The

cycle of operations isjrepeated for further as shownin Fig. 2, we preier to .make them as shown in Figs. 9 and 10. The fingers in the latter figures are shown removed from cross frame 37, boss 35 being shown .with its necked down portion for lthe mounting thereon of Cross Finally the disc 42 as previously explained. It has been found that thereis a tendency for the noodles is rotatably mounted lever 148. Pin 147 is` pin connected to the forwardend of lever 148. The rear end of lever 148 is provided lwith a slot 152 adapted to engage a small pinV 153 mounted near the end of rod 150.k Rodl 150 is fixedly connected to finger 25. When fingers 24 and 25 are separated by the action of bar 33, lever 148 and pin 147 assume the I position shown in solid lines in Fig. 9. When finger 24 approaches finger 25 for gripping the noodles, the rear end of leverk 148being restrained by rod 150, pin 147 is caused to pass through hole 151 in finger 24 until it touches finger' 25. When the fingers are Separated, the withdrawal of pin 147 through hole 151 scrapes oft' the noodles hanging from said pin. s

We claim:- l l 1. In a noodle-foldingmachine, a plurality of devices adapted to take hold of a plurality devicecomprising a pair of fingers relatively rotatableto and from each other and adapted to permit their correspondingA bunch to enter between them, a finger of each pair being" fingers have relative rotation from each other.

2. A noodle-foldingmachine of the characf ter described, having ymeans for consolidating a suspended sheet of noodles into separate hanging bunches comprising oppositely mov'- able members adapted to havethe sheet of -ofV corresponding bunches of noodles, each Y noodles hang between them, said members having oppositely disposed compartments adapted when moved toward each other to consolidate thel noodles into separate bunches between them.

8. A noodle-folding machine as claimed in' claim 2, in which the-compartments of one of the oppositely movable members lconsist of a plurality of spaced claws.

4. A noodle-folding.'machine as claimed in l claim 2, in which the compartments of one of the oppositely movable members consist of a plurality of spaced depressions formed in said member.

' 5. In a noodle-folding machine, means forV grasping at an vafi-.intermediate point a plu- Y.

rality of separate bunches ofhanging noodles, said means being swingably mounted andmovf able transversely along the-axis of said swin-ging, a surface for receiving said bunches from ythe grasping -means and mechanism for swinging saidgrasping-means to said hanging bunches 'for grasping same and then movingsaid grasping means transversely and swinging them over said receiving surface, said motions effecting the folding of the bunches on the receiving surface.

6. A noodle-folding machine comprising means for taking hold of a plurality of bunches of noodles, said holding means being rotatably mounted whereby they canbeswungto and from said bunches, said holding means being in addition adapted to be moved to and from their axis of rotation, and mechanism for swinging said holding means about their axis and for varying their diaance from same in predetermined timed relation.

' 7; A noodle-folding machine comprising means for taking hold of a plurality of b unches of noodles, bracket construction for supporting near one end said holding means, said bracket` construction being rotatably mounted near its other end, said mounting permitting said holding means to be moved nearer and farther With respect to the axis of rotation of said bracket construction, and

mechanismfor rotating said bracket cony struction for varyingthe distancebetween said holding means and said axis in predetermined timed relation.

85A noodle-folding machine comprisingVV means for taking hold of a plurality of bunches of noodles, bracket construction for supporting' near one end said .holding means, a rotatably mounted member for supporting said bracket construction near its other end, said member being adapted to permit said braclret construction to move with respect to it whereby the distance of the holding means from the axis of rotation of said member can be varied, and mechanism for rotating said member and for varying the distance of the holding means with respect to said member in timed relation. Y 9. A noodle-folding machine comprising lation. I Y

l0. A noodle-folding machine comprisingl means for-taking hold .of a plurality of bunches of noodles, a surface vfor 'receiving saidbunches from the holding means, said holding means boingy rotatably mounted whereby they. can be swung togand from said receiving surface, said holding means being in addition adapted to be moved to and from their aXis'of rotation, said holding means andV saidreceiving surface being suitably supported whereby:theylcan bey given relative i/tiinsi' transverse motion with respect to each other, and mechanism for swinging said holding means about their axis, for varying their distance from same, and for effecting said relative transverse motion in predetermined timed relation. Y

ll. A .noodle-folding machine comprising means for taling hold of at an intermediate vpoint a p' vrality of separate bunches of noodles, a conveyor for receiving said bunches from the holding means, mechanism for effecting rela ive motion `between said holding means and the conveyor and the running of the conveyor in predetermined timed relation whereby said bunches are folded upon the conveyor, another conveyor situated below said former ronveyor adapted to receive the folded bunches from said former conveyor, said latter conveyor adapted to be given intermittent motion in timed relation to the motion of said former conveyor.

l2. ln a noodle-folding machine, a pivotally mounted conveyor adapt-ed to have noodles folded upon it, `mechanism. for folding the noodles upon said conveyor,v said. conveyor adapted when rotated to oneV position about its axis to be given a'running motion and When rotated to another position to remain stationary and mechanism for effecting the operation of the .noodle folding mechanism and the rotation of the conveyor in timed relation.

13. A noodle-folding machine as claimed in claim 'l2 in `which the conveyor is in the form of an endless belt mounted upon a` pair of rollheld in a frame, said frame beingpivotally mounted at an intermediate point.

le. A noodle-folding machine comprising means for grasping a plurality of separate bmi-.ches of noodles at an intermediate point, a convevor tor, receiving the bunches from the holding means land mechanism for ef- 'iiecting relative transverse reciprocation between said means and the conveyor and the running of the conveyor in timed relation, saidmechanism also effecting said grasping action in timed relation to said reciprocation.

l5. A noodle-folding machine-as claimed in claim l in which the receiving surface is in the form of a conveyor adapted to be run intermittently in timed relation to the motions of said holding means.

16. Yln a. noodle-folcing machine a plurality of pairs of fingers adapted to hold a plurality of bunches of noodles, the lingers of a pair` Vbeing relatively rotatable to and from each other, and in addition each pair being rotatably mounted about an airis at an angle to their relative rotation for adapting each pair to be given a Wrist-like rotation.

i7. ln a noodle-folding machine a plurality of devices for grasping a plurality of sepiarate bunches ofv noodles, each device being rotatably mounted adapting it to be y given a Wrist-like rotation in addition to its grasping action, and mechanism for effecting said lit iffiifisi4 ed upon the receiving surface.

19. A noodle-folding machine as claimed in claim 18 in which the mechanism for effecting the wrist-like rotation of the holdingdevices is adapted to effect said rotation towards the end of their relative motion with the receiving surface. v

20. ri noodle-folding machine, comprising means adapted to receive and divideV into a plurality of spaced bunches. a sheet of noodles having relative motion with respect to said means lengthwise of the noodles, mechanism for cutting' off said bunches after a predetermined amount of said relative motion, a

surface upon which the bunches are folded,

plurality of devices for taking hold of said bunches from the spacing means and depositing them on said surface, and means for effecting relative reciprooatory transverse and relative reciprocatory longitudinal motions between said surface and the holding devices during the deposit of said bunches on said surface, said latter motions effecting the folding of the bunches upon the surface.

2l. A noodle-folding machine, comprising means adapted to receive and divide into a plurality of spaced bunches, a sheet'of noodlesl fed to said means in the direction of the length of thenoodles, said sheet of noodles feeding past said means from above and being converted. by said means into bunches hanging from one end below, a surface upon which the bunches are folded, mechanism for. cutting off said bunches after a predetermined lengthhas been fed, means for grasping said hanging bunches atan intermediate pointin their length before being cut, means depositing the cut off bunches on said surface, and means for effecting relative reciproeatory transverse and relative reciprocatory longitudinal motions between said surface and the grasping means during the vdeposit of said bunches on said surface, said latter motions effecting the folding of the bunches upon said surface. v 22. In anoodle-folding machine, av plui'ality of devices adapted to take holdi of a plurality of corresponding bunches of noodles hanging` from one end, each device comprising a pair of fingers relatively rotatable to and from each other land adapted to said graspingy each device comprising between them, a finger of each pair being provided With a member adapted to projectteward the other finger of the pair, the other finger of each pair comprising a smooth surface presented toward saidinember, saidgsurface being` of relatively large area with respect to said member, whereby when the bunches are cut near their upper ends, they will fall in loops over said members,

23. 'In a noodle-folding machine,means for receiving a suspended sheet of noodles and dividing said sheet into a plurality of separate hanging bunches,ineans for taking hold of said bunches at an intermediate point at predetermined intervals, cutting vmechanism for cutting off Vsaid bunches near their upper ends in` predetermined relation to the action of the holding means whereby said bunches are caused to hang in loops from the holding means, a surface for receiving said bunches` from the holding means, and means for effecting at intervals relative vertical-motion between said receiving surface and the holding means for decreasing the distance bet-Ween them, said means also effecting relative reciprocatoryA transverse motion between said surface and the holding means during the interval of 'decreasing distance, said motions effecting the folding of the bunches upon the receiving surface.

24. In a noodle-folding machine, meansr for receiving a suspended sheet of noodles and dividing said sheet into a plurality of separate hanging bunches, means for taking hold of said bunches at an intermediate point at predetermined intervals, cutting mechanism for cutting off said bunches near their upper ends inpredetermined relation to. theaction of the holding means wherebysaid bunches are caused to hang in loops from the holding means, a surface for receiving said bunches rpermit their corresponding bunch to lenter from the holding means, and means for efl fecting at intervals relative, vertical motion between said receiving surface andthe holding means for decreasing the distance between l them, said means also effecting relative reciprocatory longitudinal motion between said surfaceand theholding means during vthe interval'of decreasing distance, sai-d motions effecting the folding of the bunches upon the receiving surface.

25. In a noodle-folding rality of devices adapted to take hold of a plurality of corresponding bunches of noodles, a pair of .fingers adapted to permit their corresponding bunch to enter between them, one of the fingers of a pair of being pivotally mounted upon the other linger of the pair, said latter finger be'- ing rotatably mounted about an axis substanmachine, a plu-v Y tially at right angles to the pivotal aXis ofvir said former finger for adaptingsaid pairs to be given a wrist-like rotation.

2G. A noodle-folding machine comprising llO means for taking hold of at an intermediate point a plurality or bunches of noodles, a conveyor for receiving upon its surface said bunches romithe holdingineans, means for supporting said holding means, and mecha- `nisin for varying the distance between said holding means and its supporting means whereby said bunches are moved with respect to the surface of the conveyor for folding them thereon, and mechanism for intermittently running the conveyor in timed relation to the motions of said holding means.

27. In a spaghetti folding; machine, a tolding finger for taking hold of a bunch oi y spaghetti strips, a receiving table for engaging the lower ends of the strips as they hang from the finger and are being lowered, and cani-operated means to oscillate said finger vertically and in two horizontal directions atright angles to one another to lower and musa-1 fold the spaghetti strips into a predetermined ligure.

2S. ln a spaghetti folding` machine, a fold ing` inger in the form of a pair of jaws for taking hold of the hunch of spaghetti strips, a receiving table for engaging the lower ends of Vthe strips as they hang :troni the finger and are being lowered thereby, a cam-operated means to oscillate said inger vertically and in two horizontal directions at right angles to one another to loweran-d fold the spaghetti strips into a predetermined form, and other ca1n-operatcd means for opening and closing the jaws.

Signed at Brooklyn, New York, i in the county of Kings, and State of New York, this 12th day of March A. D. 1926.

CARMINE snnrco. y PAUL oARnoNn. 

